Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
Generic
Matt Firestone

Matt Firestone

Summary

Experienced and innovative sales leader with 17+ years of business development and client management experience.


Organized and dynamic team player, with the ability to build successful partnerships and secure new clients to drive year over year revenue at high margins.


Diverse work background including NHL, collegiate sports, international sports marketing, and live

entertainment, concerts, and lifestyle events.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIP SALES

LIVE NATION
06.2021 - 10.2023
  • Led new brand partnership discussions for category exclusive relationships across emerging sectors plus healthcare, QSR, auto, spirits, banking/financial, etc
  • Evaluated strategy for cross-market opportunities in order to maximize revenue streams and higher margin deals
  • Secured more than $2 million in new business revenue via multi-year agreements
  • Oversaw multi-million dollar naming rights partners and new venue naming rights focus in multiple markets
  • Responsible for prospecting and pitching brands and agencies on integrated partnerships including assets such as experiential activations; signage; social; promotions/sweeps
  • Solicited new brand and agency partners for national digital and social media campaigns leveraging Live Nation and Ticketmaster first party data
  • Day-to-day management of cross-functional relationships to create efficiencies to expedite new business (marketing, venue ops, etc.)
  • Managed venue brand managers and contractors on client relations and deal execution for respective markets.
  • Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

TOPGOLF MEDIA
10.2016 - 06.2021
  • Southeast partnership lead on Topgolf's corporate team; launched division from scratch in 2016 and successfully escalated to multi-million dollar business line
  • Spearheaded revenue driving partnerships for Topgolf's venues and other business verticals locally, regionally, and on national scale
  • Secured new six and seven figure partnerships with brands such as T-Mobile, Celebrity Cruises, AT&T, PGA TOUR Superstore, Hertz, GovX, Baptist Health, Movember, Wind Creek Hospitality, and Aruba Tourism
  • Developed engaging proposals to demonstrate brand impact and custom partnership/hospitality programs across Topgolf venues and other verticals
  • Managed two direct reports
  • Responsible for region's P&L and incremental YOY growth
  • Successfully managed to a 90%+ deal margin profitability
  • Innovative cross-platform partnerships provided more than $5MM in co-marketing value for Topgolf
  • Developed new creative inventory concepts to amplify partner activations (i.e
  • Aruba's 'One 2 Happy Bay' promotion aligning with their tagline to drive engagement)
  • Worked strategically with partnerships counterparts across U.S
  • For multi-venue and regional/national partnership strategy
  • Communicated effectively with various internal stakeholders to strategize on new partnership development (digital, social, marketing, legal, operations, etc.).

MANAGING DIRECTOR, U.S.

YOU FIRST SPORTS, A GLOBAL SPORTS MARKETING FIRM
08.2013 - 09.2016
  • Hired to lead the European company's expansion into the U.S
  • Reported directly to global managing director and CEO
  • Developed annual operating budget for U.S Headquarters
  • Tasked with launching business from the ground up
  • Negotiated and implemented customized hospitality solutions for clients at high profile sporting events
  • Developed an agency retainer model to secure emerging startups for business development verticals within the sports sector
  • Established strategic relationships with C-level executives at pro teams, leagues, global agencies, events, and collegiate properties
  • Directly oversaw managers and support staff
  • Main liaison between global offices in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
  • Led business development and client strategy initiatives
  • Involved in negotiation between brands/sports entities in U.S and globally
  • Solicited brand partners for endorsement deals with our NBA athlete roster
  • Drafted press releases for industry publications
  • Managed essential communications for You First Brand in U.S.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIP MARKETING

FLORIDA PANTHERS
01.2012 - 07.2013
  • Promoted by team president to Executive Director within seven months of hire date
  • Managed day-to-day relationships of 20 corporate partner contracts
  • Solicited C-level executives to sell local and national brands on strategic partnerships with Florida Panthers and BB&T Center events
  • Created customized and integrated marketing partnerships utilizing wide array of assets including but not limited to radio, TV, social media, signage, hospitality, and grassroots initiatives
  • Participated in weekly strategy meetings with team president
  • Directed team of brand activation managers on my accounts.

SENIOR MANAGER, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

AGENCY 21 CONSULTING
04.2011 - 01.2012
  • Managed the corporate sponsorship sales process for agency client events including Food Network New York City and South Beach Wine & Food Festivals; Wade's World Weekend; Reid & Fiorentino Celebrity Golf Classic; Gilt City Hampton's House
  • Developed strong relationships with experiential marketing and advertising agencies nationwide to leverage client partnerships
  • Created an innovative new venture with client Gilt City - 'Gilt City Hamptons House' and exceeded sponsorship revenue goals in 2 months; secured 12 corporate partners including Delta Airlines, Godiva, Stolichnaya, Milagro Tequila, and Amstel Light
  • Managed inventory of assets to maximize potential sponsored opportunities
  • Solicited and drafted proposals/sales presentations
  • Worked with PR teams to ensure clients receive proper recognition across major media outlets.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, CORPORATE MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS

HURRICANE SPORTS PROPERTIES, AN IMG/LEARFIELD JOINT VENTURE
01.2009 - 04.2011
  • Sold corporate sponsorships for Hurricane athletics with heavy focus on football
  • Integrated marketing partnerships across other IMG/Learfield properties statewide and nationwide where appropriate
  • Prospected, cold called, and met with top level executives on a weekly basis
  • Created unique promotions for clients and developed comprehensive proposals based on client needs analyses
  • Secured most new business accounts on staff in first year
  • Worked with GM to develop new high impact inventory
  • Managed all areas of fulfillment for clients - from web campaigns and logo rights to in-stadium signage and hospitality
  • Responsible for maintaining an account base of over $650,000 by securing new business while also developing deep client relationships to reduce attrition
  • Oversaw client promotions during Hurricane football and basketball games
  • Directed graduate assistants and game day operations/activation duties.

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, PREMIUM SEATING

FLORIDA PANTHERS
08.2005 - 01.2009
  • Helped to establish the arena's first Premium Seating department following the NHL work stoppage
  • Utilized networking skills and cold-calling techniques to sell appropriate inventory to upper-level management across various sectors
  • Responsible for the sales and service of the BankAtlantic Center premium products such as: Annual Luxury Suites, PSLs, Sinatra Theatre, ADT Club, & Loge Boxes
  • Identified needs of corporate prospects and created proposals to maximize their entertainment/hospitality budgets
  • Managed account base of over $1,000,000 annually
  • Top 3 total revenue producers on 35 person sales staff in all 3 seasons
  • Exceeded department goals in all 3 years despite Panthers missing playoffs
  • Responsible for the renewal and upsell of all accounts.

Education

BS - BROADCAST JOURNALISM

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

Skills

  • Sales Planning
  • Client Relationships
  • Meetings and Presentations
  • Business Development
  • Relationship Building
  • Public Speaking
  • Staff Management
  • Partnership Development

Websites

Timeline

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIP SALES

LIVE NATION
06.2021 - 10.2023

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

TOPGOLF MEDIA
10.2016 - 06.2021

MANAGING DIRECTOR, U.S.

YOU FIRST SPORTS, A GLOBAL SPORTS MARKETING FIRM
08.2013 - 09.2016

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIP MARKETING

FLORIDA PANTHERS
01.2012 - 07.2013

SENIOR MANAGER, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

AGENCY 21 CONSULTING
04.2011 - 01.2012

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, CORPORATE MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS

HURRICANE SPORTS PROPERTIES, AN IMG/LEARFIELD JOINT VENTURE
01.2009 - 04.2011

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, PREMIUM SEATING

FLORIDA PANTHERS
08.2005 - 01.2009

BS - BROADCAST JOURNALISM

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

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